The Future: Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter 11-TO DEPEND ON ANOTHER

The Hidden Leaf Villagers, The Rear of the Pack

As the villagers walk briskly towards the East the subtle pitter patter of their feet is clouded only by the gentle sounds of their conversations. Despite the dangerous situation they find themselves in they do not shout, they do not scream. For many of the men and women of the hidden leaf village talking has become a coping mechanism, whether it is talking about the past or what they intend to do in the future.

One thing remains absent from their conversations however, that is the danger of the current situation. To the west at this very moment they are relying upon a guardian they never would have dreamt they would have. That guardian is Senju Hashirama, the 1st Hokage. Revered by many as the 'god of shinobi', Hashirama was a co-founder of the hidden leaf village, a village born of a dream he shared with Uchiha Madara, a dream that children would no longer have to die due to the bickering of adults. A dream that children could survive whatever stupid decisions were thrust onto them.

Children had started to die though; they had not been involved in the conflict yet the enemy saw fit to kill them anyway. Such a thing would be classified as a war crime by even the most villainous of individuals. Once upon a time Uchiha Madara told the five Kage, 'what sort of adult goes all out against mere children', something that the shinobi of this world had always appreciated. Many had done such ghastly things, yet to force suffering onto children was a sin that few dared to commit.

At the rear of the pack, walking side by side are two of the few remaining members of the Sarutobi clan. They do not talk, they merely keep their heads up and walk, making sure that nobody falls behind, as would be all too easy in the current situation. Naturally, this duo consists of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sarutobi Mirai.

"Dammit" Mirai curses as she turns around to face eastwards.

"Mirai, is something wrong?" Hiruzen stops with his granddaughter to ask.

"This is all wrong" Mirai says throwing her arm out to the side of her body, "The village is under attack from a Colonel. A Colonel! Yet despite the great threat we are faced with we are just leaving this all to the 1st and the 7th".

"Don't beat yourself up over it" Hiruzen approaches Mirai and places a hand on her shoulder. Smiling gently, he continues, "Lord Hashirama and Naruto are the two of strongest shinobi the hidden leaf has ever produced, we're in good hands".

"I know that" Mirai shuts her eyes tightly, "But why am I here, doing nothing. You guys came forward from the past, you have all done your duty to the hidden leaf. I am just standing here, hoping that will be enough".

"Mirai...".

"I'm a shinobi, I am supposed to be fighting these guys myself. They've killed my friends; they've killed my family. You know Konohamaru was my cousin but I did nothing while he sacrificed himself for the village".

"It is a difficult lesson that all shinobi must learn" Hiruzen explains. "We want to do everything ourselves but we simply cannot, many have tried it throughout history and they have all failed. This is something that all the Hokage know".

"What lesson are you talking about?" Mirai asks.

"The lesson where you learn to depend on another" her grandfather answers. "I know that behind my back Danzo was doing many things that he shouldn't have been. Perhaps I should have had the courage to stop him. However, because of all those things that he did the hidden leaf is still here today, I've been thrust into a future that fills me with nothing but hope".