A scar is not always a flaw. Sometimes a scar may be redemption inscribed in the flesh, a memorial to something endured, to something lost.-Dean Koontz.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was having a good day! He was about to announce to the collective councils the candidates for Chunin. He knew that everyone he had decided on would make it. He just had to endure the meeting for a little bit.
This was Naruko's first council meeting and she was given a seat at the front of the Shinobi councils stand. She was being congratulated by the other clan heads for her performance during the exam and her achievements as the CEO of Shadow's Fire.
He smiled, proud of the girl he viewed as a granddaughter. She'd come a long way in her small life. Such pain had built strong fortitude and she was now someone to respect. Not because she was a clan head or that her father was the late Yondaime. She'd earned this respect all on her own without the help of such fancy titles. She was her own person and had proven that with enough hard work, you can achieve greatness.
The only thing he was worried about, was Hiashi. He didn't seem to like her at all. And if what Jiraiya had told him was the truth, then she had just gained an enemy. A very bad enemy.
"I have called this meeting to propose the Genin who I think should be promoted to Chunin based on their actions in the recent Chunin Exams. The nominees are Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, Sai and Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze."
The room was quiet.
"All in favor of Sasuke Uchiha being made a Chunin!"
All hands rose. "Then Sasuke Uchiha is now a Chunin of Konohagakure!"
Naruko smiled at that.
"All in favor of Hinata Hyuga being made a Chunin!"
Several hands rose. Hiashi's didn't though, which annoyed many people, Naruko included.
"Any opposed?"
Hiashi's hand was up along with a few Civilian council members.
"The favor have outweighed the opposed. Hinata Hyuga is now a Chunin of Konohagakure!"
Naruko smiled once more. Good for Hinata. She deserved it!
"All in favor of Sai becoming a Chunin!"
Every hand raised and Sarutobi smiled.
"Then Sai is now a Chunin of Konohagakure."
He sat back in his seat. "All in favor of Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze?"
Most hands rose at his question.
"All opposed?"
Hiashi's hand was up again, along with the same civilians from before. Naruko didn't raise her hand.
Hiruzen gave her an odd look, "You didn't raise your hand Naruko."
She shrugged, "I don't think it's fair that I get to vote for myself, but the others didn't. I'm not voting Hokage-sama."
He cocked a brow at that, "But you're a member of the council?"
"So? I don't think I should be given a chance to vote for myself. I want to be a Chunin, yes. But I won't vote for myself. And that is that."
Hiruzen smiled. She was an honest one. And she'd go very far.
"Hokage-sama, I don't think Uzumaki should be made a Chunin. She displayed a childish attitude during her match against Neji," Hiashi stated.
"Of course you would say that right Hyuga?" Tsume Inuzuka hissed.
Fugaku grunted, "If I recall correctly, she said her piece before the battle was started. She even gave the proctor a chance to save your 'prodigy's' life, when she could've killed him."
"She ruined his eyes!" Hiashi snapped at his rival.
Naruko chuckled, "You can't hold that against me. Every competitor had to sign a consent form because death or injury could or would occur. I could've ripped out his eyes and smashed them if I wanted. Instead, I left him alive, to wallow in his pain. I wanted to kill him, believe me, but I didn't. So stop whining Hiashi."
"Respect your elders brat!" the man yelled.
"Respect is earned, not given. You're just angry at me, because I denied your proposition of an alliance with my clan. How about you stop being childish and focus on the matter at hand. Personal feelings should never be brought into political decisions. We're talking about Chunin here. People who are going to be on missions away from the village protecting it. Your personal hatred for me, and my own for you, have nothing to do with this situation. So put on your big boy undergarments and suck it up."
Several of the men and women in the room snickered. A fourteen year old just put a forty-two year old man in his place and called him childish! And she was completely right!
Hiruzen smiled. He wouldn't have to worry for her. She could take care of herself just fine. "Because the vote was in her favor, Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze is a Chunin of Konohagakure as of this moment. Congratulations!"
Naruko inclined her head.
"Now, I would also like to tell you that I'm retiring. For good this time."
Several people grinned. They all knew how much he wanted to retire and be done with the paperwork.
"My advisors have already agreed upon the decision and my successor has as well. Tomorrow, they will be announced to the village."
"Who is it Hokage-sama?" Shibi Aburame asked, ever the level headed one.
Shikaku Nara smirked, "Of course you would choose her. A very good decision Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen smiled, "My successor and our Godaime Hokage, will be Tsunade Senju!"
The room applauded the blonde haired woman, who just waved off their happiness.
"I only agreed because Naruko inspired me. That's the only reason. In fact, if it weren't for her, I would've never returned to the village. Thank her for this," the busty Sannin said with a wave of her hand.
After Naruko was thank by some people, Hiruzen brought a final matter to the council's attention.
"Jiraiya has informed me of something. It seems that there is a group out there, that is planning to collect the Jinchuuriki and extract the Biju from them. Orochimaru was a part of this group for a while, but left after a dispute. There are only a few members remaining. Apparently, Kisame Hoshigaki and Kakazu of Takigakure were members of this group. When I explained Naruko's Teams mission in Nami no Kuni, he gave me all the information he has on this group, called Akatsuki. Jiraiya has requested to take Naruko away to train for three years, to help her get strong enough to protect herself from the Akatsuki. With her not in the village, they won't bother coming here to try and find her and their plans will be halted if they can't find her. I have given consent for him to take her."
"Does Jiraiya-sensei know why they want the Biju?" Naruko asked.
Hiruzen shook his head, "No, I'm afraid he doesn't. But he wants to keep you away from their clutches. I agree with his decision. The Akatsuki is full of S Class missing ninja. The only members he knows of, are Hidan of Yugakure and Akasuna no Sasori of Sunagakure. That brings me to another thing."
He took a deep breath, "Orochimaru murdered the Yondaime Kazekage a few months ago and disguised himself in order to plan an attack on Konoha. Suna is actually innocent in this. We are sending all Suna shinobi who were captured in the invasion back to their home. When Jiraiya takes Naruko next week, they will escort the Suna shinobi to their village. I have informed the Kazekage's son Gaara, who is also the Ichibi Jinchuuriki, about the Akatsuki as a way to help the village, incase anyone tries to attack Sunagakure while they are trying to find their next Kazekage."
Hiruzen let them talk amongst themselves about the new amount of information. Naruko didn't seem affected much and and just remained quiet until the meeting ended.
She followed him to his office when the meeting was finished. "So, I'm going away to train with Ero-Sennin?"
"What happened to Jiraiya-sensei?" he asked with a smile.
"I have to be respectful in front of the council. It's the council! Come on Jiji, you know how I am!"
He chuckled, "Yes I do! Jiraiya wants to train you some more, and this is a way to make sure you're protected from the Akatsuki, until you're strong enough. I'm sorry to say it Naruko, but you're not strong enough yet."
She shrugged, "I've known that for a while. I've been Chunin level for quite some time and now that I finally have the title that fits my level of strength, I have to train harder. I mean, it took you, Ero-Sennin, Ba-chan, the Shodaime and the Nidaime to kill Orochimaru. While my father and I took care of the other four and Kabuto. The Hiraishin gives me an edge in battle, but only if my opponent has been marked with a seal. I think I'll do what my father did, and start carrying weapons that have the seals on them. That shuriken that I made in my match against Sasuke, was awesome! I can't believe I originally thought that carrying a weapon with a seal on it was a bad idea!"
She shook her head at her own foolishness, "Anyway, this training, is going to be great! When I come back, I'll become a Jonin, better than Kaka-sensei and maybe I'll try Anbu at some point, just to test my skills. Ero-Sennin will probably take me all over the place, and I can use this as a chance to branch Shadow's Fire out further! Who knew that a group of criminals that are out to kill me, would actually help me so much?!"
Hiruzen smiled, "Well, I'm glad that you're so excited about it. Now go home and get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day for Tsunade and it would be nice for her precious people to be there early to cheer her on."
Naruko waved, "Thanks! See you Jiji!"
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Fugaku Uchiha returned home that evening, intending to tell his family about the most recent event.
Just when he was going to tell Sasuke about Naruko's soon departure, someone knocked on the office door.
"Hello Fugaku, it's been a while."
"Jiraiya-sama! What can I do for you?" Fugaku asked.
The Gama Sennin smirked and looked at Sasuke, "I'm taking Naruko away for three years to train."
The boy's eyes went wide and he jumped up. "Why?!"
The Sannin raised his hands, "Calm down. I know about your confession and how you promised to change her mind within four years. I have something that can help you with that, because Tsunade has already agreed to it. We just have to see if Fugaku agrees."
The smile on the Sannins face was enough for Fugaku to know that he was planning something.
Something devious.
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Naruko arranged for Karin to stay with the Uchiha's while she was away. Mikoto was so happy to have another young one around. She even thanked Naruko, for trusting her with Karin's well being.
Naruko then went out with TenTen and Hinata and explained to them why she was leaving. Naruko was able to drop some subtle hints about Gaara in the Hyuga heiress's ear and made her blush ten shades of red, before she finally passed out.
When she told Sasuke about her leaving, he took it really well. She even made an effort to get him to choose someone else, because he wouldn't see her for three years, so there way no way plan would work then. She hung on to his promise and just gave her a smile, while planting a kiss on her knuckles.
He said he'd wait for her for forever. She sighed. Why did Sasuke have to be like that? All good looking and romantic and smooth with his words? It made denying him fucking difficult!
Naruko made sure that Tsunade knew about the alliance between the Uchiha and the Uzumaki Clans and that Fugaku had the right to cast her vote while she was away. Both hoped that it pissed Hiashi off to no end.
On the day of her departure, Naruko met Jiraiya at the gates with the Suna shinobi, after saying goodbye to her friends the night before. She wasn't expecting to see Sasuke standing there with the Sennin, waiting for her.
"What are you doing here, Ducky?"
"I came to see you off," he shrugged.
"How kind of the mighty Uchiha! Try and find a girlfriend while I'm gone, okay?"
"No can do. It won't be possible for me, when you'll be around all the time."
"Huh?"
"Not that I'd want anyone other than you anyway."
Sasuke turned slightly and she got a glimpse of the backpack on his back.
"What's that for?" she asked, pointing to it.
He shrugged, "Just a bag. I need to have some things with me on this trip."
Naruko's jaw dropped. "You're coming with us?!"
Jiraiya grinned, "Yep! I felt that he'd be a good student also. Besides, I won't always be there, and you'll need your best friend."
Naruko glared at him. "This wasn't mentioned at the meeting."
"Of course it wasn't. I decided after the meeting to help him with his promise."
Naruko gaped, "How do you know about that?!"
Jiraiya snorted, "Oh please! Everyone has seen that video!"
"What video!? Where is it?! Who has it?! Damn it! Tell me you old pervert!"
He just waved her off and walked out of the village, ignoring her sputtering. The Suna Shinobi, including Gaara and his siblings followed him.
Sasuke grabbed her hand and laced their fingers. "I'm looking forward to the next three years Naruko," he smirked.
There is no way you can resist him for three years!
Fuck you! Just watch me!