14. The Will of the Sun

In the hospital room Yoriichi and his guest's touching reunion is interrupted by the third hokage and his group of advisors. They were all annoyed they couldn't even have an hour with Yo before the politics started. However, such was the case as the third starts with a friendly smile. "Hello everyone. We're glad you're finally awake. How do you feel Yoriichi?"

"I feel fine." Yoriichi replies without his normal enthusiasm.

"Good to hear." Hiruzen says. "You have the village's thanks for your efforts that night. They all think of you as you a great hero of the leaf."

"Well, what do you guys think of me? I don't see any 'happy you lived gifts'." Yo answers.

"Hohoho is that skepticism or just brattishness?" Hiruzen chuckles. On the inside he wonders how much of the village's current affairs he's surmised. "You will of course be rewarded for your contributions. However, about what happened that night. We're going to need to get you to tell us everything that happened that night in full detail." The third asks, he clearly commanded it more than requested. This one would be off the books.

"Hiruzen this is no time to be soft! Waiting on a child to explain something he hardly understood is nonsense. We have the Yamanaka clan just for times like this!" Danzo interjects.

"Who Dares?!" Fugaku says sharply, his eyes changing with his demeanor. He looks angrily at Danzo, but he didn't notice that every Uchiha in the room that could glared at Danzo red eyes glowing. The hostility around the room caused his root members to instinctively jump in between Danzo and the others.

"Oh settle down, Fugaku. Just because the name 'wicked eye' holds a little more weight than it once did does not change facts." Danzo does not back down. "I'm sure I don't just speak for myself when I say it's odd that only HE," pointing at Yo "knew about the hollows and how to fight them prior to their arrival. He also 'foresaw' the attack on the village and knew the suspected assailant, another Uchiha. It is hard to believe that Yoriichi doesn't have information that will benefit the entirety of the village."

"Watch yourself Danzo," Fugaku warns with his chakra flaring up.

"Do not think you can intimidate me Fugaku," Danzo's chakra also flaring from behind his guards.

"Enough!" the third says releasing his own bloodlust and chakra reminding everyone present who the longest running Hokage ever was, the aura of a man who has been at the summit for a long while. Through all this Benimaru was captivated by the third Hokage's ability to take control of the room. With his power alone he can maintain order over a situation, not to mention his store of knowledge spans back to the early days of the village.

This geezer may be the strongest but not by so much he can handle the wrath of both Fugaku and Yo, then add his group of friends who can slaughter the Anbu until upper end came. So there was clearly a balance of power to be maintained within the village as well.

"Teacher is an interrogation necessary? Brother has to submit an official report soon, does he not?" Benimaru interrupts to ask. Benimaru isn't the least bit fazed by any of the intimidation tactics, now having a general estimate of all their strengths and personalities he knew about how far he could go for now. Besides, bloodlust like that was something he and fellow sect members would let out on each other for fun back in his day. "This way of going about it is only sowing dissension…we all are acting in the best interests our home, while respecting one another's integrity I hope."

"I suppose you are right Young Benimaru, we will await your report Yoriichi." Hiruzen sighs as chakras die down and red eyes fade off. All eyes were on Benimaru who had diffused the situation with such simple words. "A fitting answer of one who carries the will of fire." Hiruzen says as if taking a shot at the Uchihas who generally rejected the will of fire. Fugaku clenches his fists tightly, and Yoriichi grits his teeth hearing that.

Teacher? Carries the will of fire? Benimaru is only five years old, how can he already be reduced to a mere pawn of the third? A house Uchiha? Unacceptable. "Benimaru Uchiha…" Yoriichi squeezes out. "Have you-"

"Big brother, what is the will of fire to you?" Benimaru asks genuinely curious about his brother's opinion. Everyone he asked prior had given him some vague and varied explanation, his family usually dismisses him entirely.

Fugaku was the most bothered by this question, he has heard Benimaru ask someone once a day since he's started talking! All he talks about is Yoriichi and that damned will of fire! Of course, he doesn't want his nephew to end up a pawn in the Hokage/Uchiha political schemes, well at least not until he was Uchiha brainwashed first. He could make a good inside man to the Hokage's faction.

Though he was tired of Benimaru asking about it constantly, the third Hokage immediately thought of his old teammate Kagami Uchiha as well as his descendent Shisui. He thought this boy may be another Uchiha born with the blazing will of fire, stars were forming in his imaging of a boy of Yoriichi's talent being a true patriot of the village. His advisors were already in line with his thinking. They may not like the Uchiha clan as a whole, but they loved the village, and they did love Kagami. Well except Danzo he was in another train of thought he could brainwash him into the ultimate weapon until he was no longer useful.

Kushina and Mikoto look on getting a little upset knowing the thoughts these upper echelons all have for a child. Even Yoriichi's teammates, and Itachi are offended at how everyone is looking at Yo's brother as an easy mark. Then the room starts to shake as a heavy pressure descends on the room and vanishes as fast as it came.

"I've been asleep for far too long if you guys aren't even trying to hide your greedy eyes in front of me. I'll do a mission debrief as per normal and submit it formally, but if you want to look into my brain… haha it's going to have to be an autopsy. IF you can kill me that is. And you!" Turning his attention to Benimaru. Looking his younger brother in the eyes, he could tell this was something that meant a great deal to him. He'd search until he found the right answer if Yo's isn't satisfactory.

Yoriichi lets out a sigh and rubs his temples, he might as well give it a shot. "…Think of it as a fire burning inside of you, it represents your own hopes, dreams, and passion. Normally we keep it contained but at certain times it burns full force like when we fight against our enemies or expressing ourselves to others." He pauses to see beni genuinely considering the information. "However, this is a fire that does not go out as easily as your life. Your fire can spread to those dry wicks igniting countless more fires or your fire will be fed by others causing it to blaze even stronger. If the village's fires all burned together, we could become like a raging inferno that lights the way towards an ideal future for everyone. Still, it won't be but a spark to the blazing sun hahaha." When Yo finishes speaking everyone ponders what Yo said for themselves

'He has the right idea at least but boy is he insufferable…' the third thinks to himself. He wonders how Benimaru will take it.

The room again shifts their attention to Benimaru who was also stuck in thought. "I see…well then I shall have to burn bright if I am to light the way..." Benimaru says feeling enlightened by his brother.

"Little brat are you trying to say something?" Yoriichi feels a challenge being issued.

"Day or night, my flames will burn brightest." Benimaru says playfully. Yoriichi presents quite the wall to overcome, the challenge was daunting yet irresistible at the same time.

Yoriichi's blood began to boil for a second, but he stopped himself. A lesson on what BIG brother means is now warranted, but he had to admit Beni was kind of cool.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You've got quite the ego on you to say that to my face! I'll make you stand by them Little brother."

Yo says with a smirk.

"Hey! Hey! If you guys are saying you're going to be the Hokage I will be the one to do it. Just like dad did!" Naruto interrupts the two of them to their surprise. "Believe it!"

"Looks like you've got yourself a challenger Beni," Yoriichi laughs.

"I accept, of course the winner will be me." Benimaru welcomes the competition.

"In your dreams! I'll be the best hokage ever!" Naruto exclaims.

"You don't want to be a part of that?" Itachi asks Sasuke off to the side.

Sasuke shakes his head no, "when I get older. I'm going to lead the shinsengumi." Sasuke says confident in his decision. He had found a bit of an idol in Kojiro the other day.

"Is that so?" Itachi isn't very surprised to hear that.

Seeing kids debating about being hokage, it was hard for the hokage himself to ruin such a moment. "I will be awaiting your report. Good day everyone." The third chooses to step back at this point, he had promising candidates in the next generation coming up.

'Indeed there was a reason master chose Hiruzen' Homura thinks looking back at the smug child. If he even has half of Yoriichi's talent he will be a great asset to the faction.

"Let's get out of here ourselves, I'm cleared to go now." Yoriichi says to everyone's agreement. "Oh one more thing…if any of you ever put me in a hospital again I'll kill you," His demeanor suddenly becoming icy cold.

"But what if you get badly hurt again? Then what?" Kushina asks.

"Nothing that happened here helped me recover, so never again. And You!" Yoriichi says pointing at Benimaru. "To MY private training grounds, let's see what the great professor taught you." Yoriichi says with a sarcastic smirk.

"Elder brother you've just got out of bed you should-" As Benimaru begins to speak he hears a snicker.

"Pft… don't act self-righteous. You think you have a chance right now? Pffft hahahahaha let's go brat. Actually, Itachi, Yami, Toph, Hana… all of you come let's re-establish the hierarchy around here." This time the smile is completely sadistic as he lets his red eyes gaze upon them all.

"Hmph, glad you asked." Yami says leading the way.

"Biting off a mouthful aren't we?" Hana says playfully waiting for Toph.

"You're so dead Yo!" Toph says pouting about Yo's arrogance.

Itachi looks at Yo and then at Sasuke who's looking at Yo with stars in his eyes. This fires him up too, he clenches his fist and follows along.

"Big brother don't let the Uchiha blood make you fall into hubris." Benimaru says with smirk following this ragtag group.

Watching them walk away Yoriichi does everything he can to hold it in, but…

"Hahahahaah Yes! Come my planets fall before me and realize that even all of the planets together fall before the Sun!! Hahaha it's pounding, the blood is dancing." He practically yells the last part. Fighting an impossibly strong sword spirit in your mind for five years will make anyone a battle junkie. He doesn't even know if he can win, but who cares? The sun shall shine most brilliantly. The only thing this fight serves besides to satisfy his lust for battle is confirmation, 'Benimaru are you a second sun or are you Jupiter a giant full of hot air. At your age I could fight weaker kage of other villages. So, don't let me down brat!' He thinks as he calms down walking behind them whistling 'Bad' by Michael Jackson.