CHAPTER 6

Thoughts of a Kage

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage of the hidden leaf village. But did he want this job. No ! He just wanted to retire. He trusted the position to Minato Namikaze and retired for a while. But his retirement was not permanent. The kyuubi incident happened. And he lost his successor and his wife Kushina. And now twelve years later he is seeing them again. He knew about the apparent friendship between Hugarashi Tenten and Uzumaki Naruto. The girl was eight months older than Naruto. But somehow they became friends after meeting at ichiraku ramen shop. Tenten was a genius when it comes to fuinjutsu and weapons like Naginata. An unusual weapon for a shinobi. But thanks to that Naruto has picked up the bow staff as well. After what happened with Itachi, Hiruzen's determination grew. He will not let Danzo get his hands on either of them. It's lucky that she also requested to stay in genin corps for a while. Then handing her to Maito Guy was also a very good decision. And if what Kakashi reported is true, then he will just have to handle this hat for a few more years. Tenten and Naruto both have will of fire. If Tenten becomes Hokage, then he won't have to worry about Naruto either. She is already powerful as a jonin if not an elite Jonin. If she kept it up then in next two to three years she will reach kage level. After that all it matters is political influence. Not to mention, if Kakashi's mention of *cough*young love*cough* is true, then it will be even easier. Even Naruto mentioned about him moving to the same building as Tenten. He had to remind them that no funny business until 18. And besides Naruto's dream is also to become Hokage. Like Kushina had her dream. And if fate agrees, then perhaps it can come true. Contemplating about the future he focused on some near future problems. Namely the upcoming chunin exams. Suna's suspicious behaviour, Kumo's peace treaty, movement of Orochimaru and emergance of new sound village. These problems are piling up on a single event. The upcoming chunin exam that will be held in hidden leaf village.

For Kumo, they will have an insurance of daimyo's personal stamp on the treaty. It almost blew up in his face due to Danzo's stupidity. If not for Tenten..*sigh*. He doesn't want to think about it. But the mission was a success. So he can relax a little on that front. As per others, he is getting headaches just thinking about them. Hopefully the investigation team will find out something about Orochimaru and his connection to the sound village. He can only hope.

...

I dodged Kushanagi with a hair's breadth. And attacked with the shockwave. The hidden shadow snake hand got obliterated and Orochimaru's body turned to mud as it exploded. Momo is the only one who was injured. I have to buy time for them. I haven't reached a level where I can switch two marked objects or people , who are at long distance with each other, without concentration. I will be able to escape. But they won't . So I fought ...no defended and dodged against Orochimaru's attack while buying time for them to go as far as possible. I activated my Re: seal and restored my chakra. And as soon as I felt my markers that were on the trio reached one mile away. I immediately switched with a grand explosive tag in my workshop of hidden leaf village. Then I proceeded to switch the trio with three marked rocks. Todo has lost a lot of blood. But other two were completely fine. Was it bad luck, that we accidentally discovered one of the Orochimaru's hideout in the land of rice paddy where the supposed sound village is situated or our worst luck that we ran into Orochimaru ? I took some deep breaths and told them to go to the hospital while I went to report to the Hokage.

...

Orochimaru was angry. First his plans to get Sharingan from Itachi failed spectacularly. So he kept an eye on his younger brother. Deployed a fool named Mizuki to watch Sasuke. While he was curious about the kyuubi Jinjuriki from kabuto's report, he dismissed him. He also heard about the civilian girl. The supposed prodigy in fuinjutsu. He dismissed her as well. And now he is regretting his decision. He cursed at the damn jutsu. She doesn't have battle experience. But she still was able to dodge his attacks. Now leaf will associate him with sound. This may create more hindrance in his plans. Not to mention, if that girl can teleport anywhere, then his plan to kill Sarutobi sensei might also fail. He needed more information. He needs to contact Kabuto immediately.

...

While going to Hokage tower, my mind was working furiously. I faced Orochimaru and barely survived. And he was serious on killing me. I didn't even get to counterattack except for one time in our entire fight. Well this is reality. Those fanfictions where mc can take on strongest of the characters with a system is just bullshit ! There is something called battle experience and that's what important. Now that I think about it, Orochimaru doesn't have any bloodline like Pain Obito or Madara. This level of strength is not enough. I sighed as I reached the tower.

' I need to finish my gluttony seal as soon as possible. '

I asked the secretary about meeting the Hokage immediately. Seeing the red symbol on the scroll as well as my jonin vest, she let me go.

"This is indeed serious." Hokage wore a solemn expression. "What's your opinion on it Tenten chan ?" He asked me.

"I noticed that there were many distractions for us on our way. If not for the experience of the tracking team, and our luck we would have never found it in the first place. And the way Orochimaru acted after discovering us, he didn't want anyone to find out the place. It's obvious. Either sound is acting with Orochimaru or the entire sound village is under him."

"It's very much likely the case. Very well you may take a week off..... And by the way, I heard Naruto and you are shifting to a new house ?"

"Yes Hokage sama. His appartment is not in a good condition so I offered him my place in a low price."

"I see, but let me remind you no intemate business until both of you become eighteen." I involuntarily blushed at that comment. How in the world everyone knows ? I am sure we are not acting like a couple. And the only time I was lovy dovy with him when he himself desired for me and because of his unfair cheat my hermons made me horny. *Sigh* I have a week off. Let's finish the shifting procedure. I have plans to inaugurate my new mall before the finals of chunin exams.

...