The Future: Naruto Fanfiction

chapter 25

Naruto and Clyde's Starting Point

The 7th Hokage looks fondly over the people he had considered his enemies not moments ago. Their heads are mostly lowered, their respect for him is clear, they respect his power and his capabilities. That is not the true source of respect though, by now Naruto could have killed each and every one of them but he hasn't, he has spared them despite the terrible things they have done to this world.

Five Colonels, between they have destroyed four hidden villages. The fifth they had not destroyed only for one reason, because the shinobi of the hidden leaf had beaten them to it. Their sins against this world are not something that can be easily forgiven. This person before them though is not a normal person, he has an incredible desire to protect and redeem everyone he meets. That is why he was able to comprehend the element that is life. That is why he is so incredible.

Naruto's allies arrive by his side. They come in no great rush, instead walking to him calmly after their moments of celebration. Hashirama, the man who had played the most vital role in the secondary battle. Tobirama who in his own match had defeated the mightiest of the Colonels. Mirai who had raised team morale before freeing Hashirama in the final match. Kakashi who had become the hidden leaf's trump card just as Naruto had predicted. Boruto who had changed the tide of battle by going back for Sarada. And lastly, the 9th Hokage herself, who had summoned them all here.

"Good job, Naruto" Kakashi praises his student with a pat on his back, "You have really made me proud today. I'm prouder than ever before to have been your sensei".

"You beat them, dad" Boruto is equally as happy about this outcome. As the shadow Hokage he has truly had to endure this war on the dark side, he has gone for so long without seeing the light of day and now it has been shown to him. It is his dad who made that possible.

"Lord 7th" Sarada smiles. "Thank you. Bringing you back. Bringing all of you to the future. That was the best decision that I have ever made".

That is what defines these people from the past. The one thing that they all have in common, they are Hokage. This is why Sarada summoned them in the way she did. They had to truly believe in the will of fire, they had to define the will of fire, they had to set an ideal, that is the Hokage. This mental state, it is something hard to produce, something that needs to be protected desperately, to help with this, Sarada summoned their loved ones at the same time. To lose a loved one, you need only look at Hashirama to see what it can do to a person.

"So, you will keep your promise right" Tobirama asks of Peterson, his opponent in his own match, the first person he fought in the future.

"Don't worry, we will keep our promise" Peterson nods to Tobirama. "We will deceive the other Generals to protect you".

Tobirama sighs in relief. "Good" he declares. It may not be vengeance or entirely satisfying but this is the action of a Hokage, this is the right thing to do. His time as Hokage had been dominated too much by what he did in the shadows. It is a lesson he has learnt from the other Hokage, from Sakura's tale of shinobi history. If you have to act in darkness, if you have to hide what you are doing because it is dishonourable, it is probably the wrong thing to do.

However, not everyone agrees.

"That is not satisfactory" Boruto frowns.

Peterson starts as the shadow Hokage reaches for his pocket. Slowly, methodically, he unsheathes a steel weapon, despite their similar levels of power, to the Colonel it feels as if he is facing a demon.