Not Glass, but Diamond

Back Home: The Great Stone Faces

Two days later...

Naruto's POV:

"Here's the scroll and the report Tsunade-Sama." Kakashi sensei said handing over the two scrolls.

We're now standing in the Hokage's office back in Konoha. He's debriefing the mission to the Hokage but my mind elsewhere. Today's Friday. The D-day. I can't stop trembling. What if he doesn't show? What if shows up? What then? Will he reject me after showing up? It will be quite awkward and painful if that happens. What if he accepts me? We're sensei and student. What will the village think of us? Would Kakashi sensei be okay with it? Now that the meeting is close, my mind is storming with thoughts I can't control and I'm trembling with nerves.

"-uto! Naruto!" Tsunade obaachan's voice breaks me from my thought spiral.

"Huh?" I asked surprised.

"I said that this mission want just a scroll retrieval but also a scout mission. They hold illegal auctions that sell humans, even Shinobi. You four will lead a team to take that place down and bring in any surviving criminals from the bingo book. And since Sakura was the one who saw most of the patrons, she will identify everyone she saw from the bingo book. That's the reason we sent you on an infiltration mission that's totally not your usual cup of tea." baachan said annoyed. She must not have liked to repeat all of that.

I sweat dropped scratching the back of my neck.

"Sorry baachan, this mission was quite........ emotionally tiring for me..." I said not entirely lying. But it caused an undesired after effect. My team deflated at that. All the of them looking down with their hands clenched.

"Alright, I understand. But, unfortunately I have more bad news." she said and all four of our heads snapped back to her face. She put a hand on her face, her fingers pinching her forehead, and she continued,

"The mission to take down that casino....... will be your last mission as team 7." she said surprising all of us.

"What do you mean Tsunade-sama?" Kakashi sensei asked trying to keep his composure but failing.

"I mean team 7 is disbanding. All other teams of your class already have. You are all jonins now. Powerful ones that can handle A-rank missions alone. In fact the four of you are the most powerful shinobi in Konoha. Your strengths can't be concentrated at one place, it should be dispersed and we need you all to become Jonin leaders for the upcoming generations." baachan continued.

We all knew she was right and that this was inevitable. But that doesn't mean being faced by it like this would not hurt. We had grown up together. We were family. In fact team 7 was the only family I ever had. And I don't want Kakashi-sensei to be alone again either. I love him too much to allow that. Even if he doesn't return those feelings.

"And Kakashi?" baachan calls.

"Yes Tsunade-Sama." Kakashi sensei answers straightening up from the hunched up position he was in.

"You will start assisting me along with Shizune right after that mission." baachan said opening up our report scroll and skimming through it.

"May I ask why Tsunade-sama?" Kakashi asked cautiously.

"Isn't it obvious? I want to retire sooner than later. And the council has also agreed. You'll be my successor." she said nonchalantly and lifted her head to look up at Kakashi sensei.

"Congratulations?" she wished with a smile.

"I..... I don't think I'm suited for a position like that." Kakashi sensei said clearly caught off guard by the progression of things.