Narukos new life as Lady Maria Uzumaki

Chapter 7 A happy reunion

Maria and Hiruzen were sat in the Hokages office finishing up with Maria's plans for some major changes to the village, it had been a short while since the Anbu had been sent off to warn the required Jonin that their presence was demanded. Maria finished talking and planning stood up and walked over to the window, crossing her arms behind her back she gazed out across the large village.

"You know when I look out across this village I can see children running around in the streets, smiling and shouting while they play their games. I can see adults going about their day doing whatever plans they had made shortly after waking, yet.. I cant find it in me to love this village. I am someone who has seen what this village truly looks like under this thin layer of normality, the darkness that this village hides, the skeletons buried deep under the roots of this great tree we call Konoha. So much corruption still lingers in this village and I plan to wipe Konoha clean and bring it down to its knees where I will build it back up to something greater". Maria said now turning back around to Hiruzen who still sat on his chair looking up at her. "Tell me Hiruzen why do you continue to fight for this village?". Maria asked.

Hiruzen calmly takes out his pipe and packs it full of tobacco, taking a deep breath inhaling the smoke and holding it for a second before letting it out. "I have fought for as long as I have because I love this village, its my home and I view everyone as family and that's my motivation to keep fighting to help protect this village and the family within its walls. Did you know all the Hokages are linked in some way and that wont change with you. I was taught by the first and second Hokages, I trained the Sannin where I began to hope that Tsunade would help me retire as good as that turned out to be. We got lucky that your father Jaraiyas student came about, he proved to be exactly what this village needed its just a shame his reign and his life ended so abruptly. When you came back and cleared the council out the way you did showed me exactly what needed to happen to guarantee the future of this village and I took it without any hesitation. You bring so much to this village even if your outlook of Konoha isn't one of love, I know with your experience outside the village and what you know within the village I can sit back and believe that you'll guide us to a brighter future.

Maria looked down at the old man for a short time absorbing his answer, she couldn't fault the man for his views on the village he loved. She had lived away from the village and seen the way others live in different villages and it gave her a clear image of Konoha, one the old man would never be able to see. She chose however to not continue the conversation, she only wished to hear his opinion she wouldn't state if she believed him to be wrong or not. After he retired it wouldn't be his rule anyway, she had planning to do.

Several Anbu appeared suddenly with the up and coming Jonin instructors and bowed. "Lord Hokage the Jonins have been gathered as requested". Hiruzen nodded and gestured for the Anbu to leave, stood In front of himself and Maria was kakashi Hatake future leader to team 7, Kurenai Yuhi future leader of team 8, Might Guy current leader of team 9 and Asuma Sarutobi future leader to team 10. "First I would like to say thank you for all of you coming on such short notice." The Jonins were all stood there with their eyes glued to the woman standing behind the Hokage, they of course knew who she was and all them were on guard as the power radiating from her was causing their fight or flight instincts to go off.

Hiruzen smirked at his Jonin and how they couldn't take their eyes off Maria. "Please relax, I have called you here because some changes are being made in the village and these changes will affect you and your team's." Hiruzen stands and moves to the side of his desk giving Maria room to talk.

Maria nods towards Hiruzen in thanks. "I thank you all for coming as fast as you could, two things you need to be made aware of before I move on to the main topic. first I have been handed responsibility over both the academy and chunin exams. second is that after reviewing several papers on the graduates I am thoroughly disappointed in the skill levels I have seen, now I don't blame the academy instructors for this no I blame the late civilian council who for reasons that escape me were left to run something they don't have any experience in. Now that being said if you wish to enter your teams in the chunin exams in 6 months improvements will have to be made to each individual members of each team, if even one member hasn't shown sufficient improvement I will not permit that team to enter."