Chapter 36: A good gift

"Ayako, why don't you bring the gift I prepared for Oden?" Hiruzen spoke.

Ayako stood up and nodded before running off.

"Hmm, Ayako is a good girl, she's really talented, cares deeply about those close to her, and has a good head on her shoulders." Hiruzen started promoting Ayako's image in hopes to bind Oden to the sa

Saratobi clan.

"mm," Odne nodded without saying much.

Soon Ayako came back, holding a beautiful staff.

Hiruzen took the staff and looked at it in nostalgia.

"Oden-san, when I grew up, my role model was my father Sasuke Sarutobi." Hiruzen said as his eyes were on the staff.

"He was a fearless shinobi respected by many, and he used to use this staff. He had it specially made and this is one of the best staffs in the world. I never used it since it had personal value to me... But I want you to have it so that it can be brought to the light once again." Hiruzen said with a nostalgic smile.

"..." Oden gave a simple look with a raised eyebrow.

Hiruzen chuckled as he saw the look on Oden's face. His expression screamed 'are you sure about this gift?'

"Take it, when I saw your skill with the staff, I realized I wanted you to have this instead of it accumulating dust, hidden somewhere, and forgotten," Hiruzen said as he handed the staff to Oden.

"Thank you sandaime-san." Oden said respectfully as he explored his gift.

"This is a good weapon!" Oden said in surprise as he lightly swung it.

Hiruzen smiled at the fact that Oden seemed impressed by his father's weapon.

Oden stayed for half an hour and enjoyed tea with Hiruzen and Ayako, even though she stayed quiet most of the time.

Oden noticed that she seemed kike she wanted to speak lots but restrained herself because of politeness. She seemed very lively.

Soon a few weeks flew by in a blink of an eye.

In the Hokage office, Oden had just finished his weekly paperwork as two advisors rushed inside.

"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya has returned with Naruto!" They expressed, in a hurry.

"What about Tsuande?" Oden asked stoically, but inside he was worried, what if she didn't return? would he have to keep being Hokage?

'No... NO WAY! I'll put this hat on Might Guy if I have to...' Oden thought in stress but hid his feelings well.

'Well... Maybe not Might Guy... I'll give Kakashi one more month before making him the Hokage if he can reach the Hokage-power threshold...' Oden thought as he stared at the advisors.

"Tsunade-sama... Has returned as well!" They informed.

"I see, then bring them here." Oden said strictly, but on the inside, he was shouting in happiness.

"Yea, Hokage-Sama!" they said as they left. Not even 2 minutes later did an angry, hot blonde arrive in the office, followed by Jiraiya and Naruto.

"Is this the brat that wanted to brand me as a traitor!" She said, with almost visible anger in her voice.

Oden looked up from his seat, and stared her right in the eyes as if she was zero threat to himself.

It was at these moments that Oden wished that he had picked up Hiruzen's tobacco habits so that he could breathe out smoke while saying something along the lines of 'How dare you/call me a brat, don't you know that Migoto will take that personally?'

And if Migoto had been in their presence he would have said 'How dare you look down on this emperor?'

"Until you've received the hat, address me with formality and respect," Oden said as he stared at her, ready for any attack.

"Brat, let's take this outside." Tsunade said with very obvious anger in her voice.

"Hokage nii-san, beat her ass!" Naruto shouted, happy to see the old woman that beat him, get beaten.

"Tsunade calm down, I need to speak to him before you two can fight it out," Jiraiya said. He sounded like he was exhausted.

Oden observed that there were signs of fighting on both Jiraiya's outfit and Tsunade's clothes. He assumed that Jiraiya's mission hadn't gone without a hitch.

Tsunade stepped back but still with a battle-ready look on her face.

"Naruto, have you written a report yet?" Oden asked even though he knew the answer.

"N-No.. not yet," he said sheepishly as he stepped back. He was slightly disappointed that he couldn't see Oden beat up Granny Tsunade.

"The go and write one, I'm expecting one before the day ends," Oden said.

"And Naruto... well done on accomplishing your mission. I'll give you a small bonus for a job well done." Oden said to Naruto with a rare, warm smile as Naruto was about to walk out.

Naruto stilled for a few seconds, trying to process what he had heard. There weren't many occasions in his life where his efforts had been appreciated, so Oden's words had really touched Naruto.

Yet Naruto simply nodded and walked out of the office almost somberly.

Oden expected lots of reactions, but not this simple one.

As Naruto went out of sight, he stopped and his head fell.

Today was the day his efforts had paid off. Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage was so that everyone would accept and appreciate him both as a person and as a shinobi.

Today, the most important person in the village valued him as a shinobi.

Naruto's eyes watered slightly as he started smiling brighter than he had in a long time.

This meant a lot to him. One talent that Naruto had, that few knew about, was that he could sometimes feel the intentions and feelings of others, and Oden's feelings were of pride, honesty, and kindness as he said those words. Naruto had felt it and knew it was genuine.

It was genuine on a level that was rare even from those that were close to him.

Those that cared about him were often genuine to him, but that genuinity was almost always stained with agendas and other ideas.

Naruto could feel it. And it was normal, as he had once even felt the love of two happily married couple, and yet it was still filled with other emotions such as selfishness and so on.

This was the norm even for the kindest of souls.

Yet Naruto felt Oden be proud, happy, and appreciative of Naruto, without any other selfish reasons.

What Naruto didn't know was that his existence as a jinchuriki had made it impossible for people to not view him as an important tool for his village, even if they loved him dearly as a person.

Oden however couldn't care less.

Oden stared at Jiraiya who was surprised that Oden could show such a warm smile to anybody.

Tsunade didn't mind it much as she hadn't met Oden before and didn't know about his stoic character.

"Tsunade... In three days we'll have a ceremony for your return as the fifth Hokage, you can leave now." Oden said as he waved her out.

He did try to pretend not to be bothered by her, but truthfully he was a bit bothered. He wasn't someone she could easily call a brat.

Normally he didn't care but if his image was bad, his clan's image was bad. He needs to act on his pride because his pride is the pride of his clan.

he understood that fact.

Seeing how dismissive Oden was of her, Tsunade got angrier.

"Catch me outside, right now." She said as her fist clenched. Her fists were making scary sounds.

Suddenly the door slammed open as a black-haired young lady hurried inside.

"Tsunade-sama I knew you'd make trouble so I followed you. Sorry Hokage-sama, I'll take care of her." The young lady said.

"Shizune, don't butt into this!" Tsunade said with a scowl

Jiraiya was just looking with helplessness, whenever one had a peaceful conversation with Tsunade, she would talk peacefully back... with her fists, peacefully meeting your face, then peacefully sending you to the afterlife.

Shizune dragged Tsunade out in worry before anything else could happen.

"Tsunade, in half an hour meet me in front of Forrest of death, let's have our fight there." Oden said without worry.