What would you think if someone told you that you could become Hokage? Especially if you were a missing-nin...
Excitement? Bewilderment? At a loss, or something else entirely?
Naruto couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart at that moment. After all, among childhood playmates, everyone aspired to become Hokage when they grew up. To say he had no thoughts on the matter would be somewhat self-deceiving. But was he incredibly excited? Not particularly.
If these words had been said to him a few months ago, the process might have had some turbulence, but the result would undoubtedly have been his return to Konoha. However, there are no "ifs" in life. Rich experiences are always the best medicine for changing a person's thinking, especially a man's.
"Kage"—for him a few months ago, it was a word of immense weight. For him now, the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages were merely powerful ninja with special status. He had seen, and even fought against, the Kazekage, Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Hokage. His horizons had long since broadened. He no longer held the same longing and illusions about the title of Kage as he once did. Once the feet of a god are stained with mud, she is no longer the object of people's prayers.
Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, the Flying Thunder God Technique, Sage Mode... With these various arts at his disposal, he had long possessed the qualifications to sit as an equal with the Five Kage. The question was, would you be willing to give up everything you currently possess in exchange for something you already have?
"For a missing-nin, is it worth it?" Naruto looked at the elder before him, puzzled. What had he done to deserve such a great sacrifice from him?
"It's worth it." Nara Shikaku nodded heavily. "Your ideals, your vision, your great love—these are things the current Konoha lacks. Your perspective has already transcended worldly interests. I, and even the Fifth Hokage, cannot compare to you. You truly possess the mindset of a Kage."
"I know that the title of Hokage is merely an embellishment for you, but I still hope you can return—to serve as the Sixth!"
"..." Naruto fell silent. Sometimes, the hardest thing to refuse is sincerity.
"I don't know the specifics of the peace you pursue, but as long as you become Konoha's Sixth Hokage, the resources of the number one village in the shinobi world can help you clear many obstacles," Nara Shikaku continued. "Konoha's military strength, intelligence network, weapons reserves, and ninjutsu resources far exceed your imagination. The reason we became the number one village in the shinobi world was never due to the charity of others."
To be honest, Naruto was tempted. Just as Nara Shikaku said, if he had Konoha backing him, achieving many things would become much easier.
"Can you give me some time to think?"
"Of course. My promise stands at any time," Nara Shikaku said, his expression firm as he nodded. As long as he's willing to consider it. Willingness to consider meant he was tempted.
"Dinner's ready." Shikamaru brought out the food at the opportune moment. He said to Naruto, "Let's eat first. You need a full stomach to have the energy to think."
Although it was just dinner for four, with Shikamaru and Nara Shikaku occasionally stirring the conversation, the atmosphere remained lively.
"I'll be going now." After dinner, Naruto rose to leave. "Shikaku-san, I may not be able to give you an answer in the short term," he said apologetically, looking at Nara Shikaku.
"Think it over carefully. After all, this concerns the path of your life," Nara Shikaku nodded slightly.
"Here." Naruto handed over two Gelel Stones. "When you train, guide the energy inside with your chakra." The Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique belonged to the realm of Yin Release. The life energy, which was aligned with Yang Release, might bring some unexpected benefits to their training.
Shikamaru took them. Feeling the energy contained within the Gelel Stones, his chakra instantly reacted, and his expression shifted. Just as he was about to ask about their origin, Naruto's figure had already vanished.
"Dad." Shikamaru handed one Gelel Stone to his father.
"Good stuff." Feeling the Gelel Stone's energy, Nara Shikaku was also surprised, but he didn't ask much and silently pocketed it. "It's still early. Care for a game of shogi?"
"Alright," Shikamaru nodded.
"I'll go do the dishes," Shikamaru's mother said, seeing the situation and knowing the father and son had things to discuss, tactfully excusing herself.
In the study, father and son sat opposite each other.
"Dad, you weren't joking earlier, were you?" Shikamaru made the first move. He had never won against his father at shogi, so it was an unspoken rule that he always went first.
"No." Nara Shikaku shook his head. "I was very serious."
"The Fifth Hokage only just took office..." Shikamaru trailed off.
"The Fifth is too indecisive. After so long, she still hasn't reclaimed all her authority and is still constrained by the two advisors," Nara Shikaku sighed. "Furthermore, Shimura Danzo is eyeing the Hokage position covetously..."
"The current situation in the shinobi world is treacherous and unpredictable. Konoha needs a strong and decisive Kage to take charge."
"Dad." Shikamaru rubbed a shogi piece between his fingers. "Will they agree to a missing-nin becoming the Sixth Hokage?"
"Has Konoha ever officially issued a wanted notice for Naruto?" Shikaku countered.
"...No." Shikamaru's eyes lit up. How could he have forgotten that? As long as there was no official document defining Naruto's actions, there was room to maneuver. And for their Nara clan, such matters were almost too easy.
Whoosh~
A cool evening breeze rustled his hair. Sitting cross-legged on a cliff, overlooking the bustling streets below, Naruto asked, "Kurama, what do you think I should choose?"
"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?" Kurama raised an eyelid slightly. "This is, after all, the place where you grew up. You have your friends, teachers, the scenery here..."
"Taking a step back, even if you find it uncomfortable here later, you can always leave, can't you? With your current strength, who in Konoha can stop you?"
"You make me sound like some scoundrel who skips out after getting what he wants," Naruto laughed. "To be honest, after Shikaku-san's persuasion, I do have the thought of returning to Konoha. But for now, it's just a thought. The current circumstances don't allow me to do so."
"How so?" Kurama asked.
"Lady Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, has been in office for less than half a year. During her tenure, she has worked diligently and actively engaged in foreign relations," Naruto explained. "While she hasn't achieved any great merits, she has consistently made small accomplishments. Unless she immediately commits some egregious act of misconduct that shocks the entire shinobi world, even with the recommendation of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, I can only be a Hokage candidate. I can only become the Sixth Hokage after Lady Tsunade steps down."
"With your strength, snatching the Hokage position should be a piece of cake," Kurama scoffed.
"When playing a game, you have to follow the rules," Naruto shook his head. "Unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to flip the table. If a Kage can be replaced just like that, what becomes of the Kage's authority? If he can be replaced by me today, can he be replaced by someone else tomorrow?"
"Moreover, Shikaku-san's true meaning when he told me to think it over was for me to take it slow. The Hokage position can't be rushed."
"The more you humans evolve, the more troublesome you become," Kurama shook his head.