War of the Biju: Tale of the Fourth Shinobi World War

Note, this is already up on Narutofan, up to the most complete chapter. I'm just transferring it here.

Prologue: Akatsuki has just dealt a devestating blow to Konoha, completely destroying its economy and military infrastructure. The leader of Akatsuki, Pain, was defeated by Naruto, the Jinchuuriki of Kyubi no Yoko, who confronted the man behind Pain, Nagato, and convinced him to change his ways. Nagato trusted the future to Naruto, and revived everyone he had killed in Konoha before he died from lack of chakra.

Naruto is now returning to his home village after confronting Nagato...

Chapter 1: The Sixth Hokage is...
Konoha, Hokage Monument
Naruto breathed in and out as he walked through the forests towards Konoha. He was mentally and physically exhausted after the two battles he waged this day. If it wasn't for his father, the Yondaime Hokage Namikaze Minato, he would have unleashed the Kyubi fully in an attempt to defeat Pain. He could still remember Hinata laying on the ground in a pool of blood...and he closed his eyes, hoping that she was okay.

Putting his hand against the bark of a tree, he began breathing in and out, settling himself before walking forward again. His confrontation with Nagato himself was one of the toughest challenges he had ever went through. He had wanted to kill Nagato so badly, he was literally shaking when facing him. But...he couldn't do it. It wouldn't have been what Jiraiya would have wanted. Naruto had done the impossible...and managed to change Nagato's mind. Now...Nagato had entrusted the future to him...he had to find a way to bring peace to the world, even for a short time.

...Ero-sennin's book can change the world...but how? I need...to find the answer... Naruto thought, setting his hand on another tree. ...the first thing I have to do...is become Hokage. Thinking of Sasuke, he closed his eyes. ...this is more important than you, Sasuke. Though someday, I will bring you back.

Nearly tripping, he found himself being caught and he blinked to see Kakashi and Hinata there, steadying him. "Kakashi-sensei? Hinata-chan? When..."

"Katsuya-sama informed us that you had beaten Pain and had finished confronting the person behind Pain. She also told us you were exhausted so I let Hinata-sama here lead me to you," Kakashi said with his smiley eye. Naruto...you did good...

Hinata's breath was caught in her throat as she looked at Naruto, who gave her an exhausted smile. "I'm glad you're alright, Hinata-chan."

Hinata blushed, and she forced herself to stay conscious. "T-Thank you...Naruto-kun...thank god...thank god you're okay..."

Naruto smiled, and Kakashi carried him the rest of the way as Hinata walked next to them. Getting through the rest of the forest, Naruto's eyes widened to see...the entirety of Konoha gathered...waiting for him.

"Welcome back Naruto!"

"We believed in you!"

"You're a hero, Naruto!"

"Welcome home!"

"Thank you!"

Naruto blinked as the villagers showered praise and thanks onto their new hero. "They've all...been waiting for you, Naruto."

Kakashi thought about what Naruto said when they first met... 'My dream...is to become greater than the Hokages! I'll make everyone acknowledge my existence!' He let his student down, smiling. Naruto...you did magnificently...

"Welcome home!" the crowd said again, running over to Naruto, Kakashi, and Hinata, and they began patting him on the back and congratulating him.

"I told them everything that happened," Katsuya said, poking out of Naruto's collar.

Quickly, Naruto was swamped by the villagers who were cheering him on.

"What's he like?"

"Is he hurt?"

"Ow! Don't shove," Naruto said, and everyone continued to swamp him.

On top of Gamakichi's head stood Fukasaku and Shima, who were watching Naruto with pride. Sakura slowly made her way to Naruto as Hinata wiped her eye as a single tear of joy trickled down.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto said as his best friend came over.

"Always so reckless, dummy!" Sakura yelled, slamming her fist into the Sage's stomach making him wheeze...then she hugged him, surprising the rest of the crowd. "Naruto...thank you..."

Everyone smiled at that, and Sakura looked at Hinata, letting Naruto go and she walked over to the other young woman, and nudged her slightly in the Sage's direction. The Hyuga Heiress stumbled, and out of reflex, Naruto caught her and the two blinked...and the crowd began clapping and cheering.

Hinata-chan...you risked your life to save him...and contributed to his victory... Sakura thought, smiling as she stood next to her sensei.

Naruto and Hinata blinked and Iruka smiled, reflecting on his former student's past; the sad, lonely boy who just wanted to be acknowledged as a great ninja...had now achieved that goal. Naruto began to be tossed in the air and caught by the crowd and he began laughing and cheering. Iruka adjusted his headband, smiling.

On the outskirts, Zetsu looked at the scene in shock. "I never thought Pain would be defeated. We better go tell Madara...he won't be happy." With that, he sunk into the tree branch he was spying on the village on.

In the crowd of villagers, an ANBU landed behind Nara Shikaku, the Head Jonin of Konoha. He was standing next to his old teammates, watching as the rest of the villagers celebrated Naruto's return.

"What is it?"

"Emergency meeting, you're to report to the Council Room immediately."

"...already, huh?" Shikaku asked with a sigh, closing his eyes.

Akatsuki Hideout, unknown location
Standing in front of the still summoned Gedo Mazo statue, Zetsu was telling Madara of Pain's defeat. The true Akatsuki Leader squeezed his hand into a tight fist. He closed his permanently activated Sharingan eye as Zetsu finished.

"So that's what happened. What are you going to do now? Oh...and Konan's not coming back."

"...we need to find another person to sync with the Gedo Mazo..." Madara said, composing himself. "Kisame, you track down the Hachibi. I have another matter to attend to."

Konoha
After the initial celebrations died down, the citizens of Konoha started rebuilding. Akatsuki could crush their buildings, but it could not put out their Will of Fire. Tents were set up on the former battleground to house the people of the village while parties would go out to search for suitable building materials in the debris. In one of the medical tents, Tsunade was resting, her youthful appearance had faded. Sakura and Shizune were healing her, doing chakra transfusions while Naruto and Kakashi stood by.

"...we were lucky she didn't die," Sakura said, her hand's glowing green as she began to pump her own chakra into Tsunade's body. "...and we're lucky she'll recover."

"...how long'll take for her to wake up, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as his teammate lifted her hands off of the Hokage's chest.

"I'm not sure...could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks...and Konoha is at a crucial juncture. We need her to wake up..." Sakura said, doing some more seals and pressing her hands down over Tsunade's chest, healing, soothing green chakra pumping back into her sensei's system.

Kakashi nodded. "An temporary Hokage'll have to be appointed in her place then..."

"Shikaku-san has been summoned by the Daimyo for that very reason, Kakashi," Shizune said, replacing the dishcloth that was on Tsunade's forehead with a fresh one. "I think you're going to be appointed."

Kakashi blinked. "Me? But...I'd be terrible at the job," he then patted Naruto's back. "Naruto's more than ready, I believe."

Naruto blinked, his jaw lowered. "Are you...are you serious Kakashi-sensei?"

"Yes," Kakashi said, looking at his former student. "Lets face it, you're stronger than me, and you were able to beat Pain, and negotiate with the man behind Pain which lead to everyone who Pain killed being revived."

Naruto nodded, breathing out. "...but I...well...I'm a great ninja yeah...but I don't know if I'm ready yet."

"Not many leaders are, Naruto," Kakashi said with a smile. "But they have leadership thrust upon them."

The Sage blinked at his sensei's vote of confidence, and he smiled, rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks, sensei."
-

Fire Country Capital
In the capital building of the Fire Country, the leaders of Konoha as well as the leaders of Fire Country had gathered. At the head was the Daimyo, the Lord of the Fire Country and one of the most powerful leaders on the continent. For Konoha's leaders, there were the three elders, Mitokada Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzo, as well as the ANBU General, and Head Jonin Nara Shikaku.

"We will continue to work with the other countries to deal with the Akatsuki Threat," Homura began, folding his hands in front of him.

"...after what's happened to the village, the Fire Country will put every resource into getting it rebuilt," the minister of the treasury stated. "First we'll have to come up with a budget...and then consider the strain on the other nations."

"There is something else to consider first," Danzo stated, looking at the people gathered. He was keeping his eye in reserve. "Who will be the next Hokage?"

It is coming to that...Danzo you are going to make your move aren't you? Shikaku thought.

"Can we not wait till Tsunade-hime has recovered? According to the reports of her students, she should be better in a few weeks," the Daiymo, Lord Tokusei Ieyasu suggested. "She is still Hokage, after all."

"My lord, Tsunade-hime is partially responsible for the village's construction," Koharu said and Shikaku sighed.

"She is not, Koharu-sama. Pain was going to destroy the village anyway, he had to preserve his secret which our men had found out," Shikaku said, interrupting Koharu's tirade. "And if there is anyone who should fill in for Tsunade, I have two recommendations."

"And they are, Shikaku?" Ieyasu asked.

"Hatake Kakashi, the copy ninja and former apprentice to the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, or Uzumaki Naruto, apprentice to the late Jiraiya-sama, and the boy who saved the village from Pain," Shikaku said while folding his hands.

Ieyasu was intrigued. "Both seem fine choices, however, isn't Naruto-san still a teenager?"

"Yes, but he has much experience fighting Akatsuki, having encountered them several times," Shikaku replied. "And I think it should be obvious who his father is now, as well. He is Minato-sama's very son."

That was the clencher for the Daimyo, and Danzo decided it was best not to use his trump now. The boy's inexperience will lead Konoha into ruin...I will be there to pick up the pieces, Danzo thought, and he opened his eyes. "I agree with Shikaku-san's assestment. Naruto is a fine choice."

"Then it's decided, the Rokudaime Hokage will be Uzumaki Naruto," Ieyasu said, folding his fan up.

To Be Continued...

Author's Notes:
I've had this fic stewing in my mind for a while. I know, Naruto may become Hokage too fast, but at this point...I say he has earned that seat. And like a normal human being, he'll make mistakes, but he'll grow from them.

Next chapter: The Five Kage Summit

Naruto: I've achieved my dream...I'm Hokage...but am I really ready for this?