The Hokage's Will by Airheaded dude

Chapter 1: The Selection

Chapter 1: The Selection

The Hokage's Will

Summary: The aftermath of Pain's attack left Tsunade in comatose, with a sudden surprise from the Lord of Fire, Naruto is left inheriting the Mantle.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, all copyrights belong to Masashi Kishimoto, Suiesha and VIZ media. This is strictly for fan purposes only.

Chapter one: The Selection

"As it was foretold..."

The elder sage of Myobokuzan said in his shaking voice, holding within his hand, the crystal ball to see the events that had occurred. Gamabunta sat in front of the elder sage and watched the events unfold. His injuries aching his gigantic body, forced him to be summoned out of Konoha. The battle with Pain was made into a full battle of attrition against Naruto, who in the end, succeeded by finishing the fight with God Realm with a slew of back up plans.

"Though it is unthinkable that Jiraiya's two apprentices were the chosen of this prophecy... The change and revolution of the ninja world."

The crystal ball, willed by the elder sage, zoomed in on Naruto's hand that held the first book that Jiraiya ever made. The elder sage then said, "That book really is the key to change for a prosperous future."

Gamabunta wordlessly looked on to the crystal ball, as he viewed the features of young Naruto; the image of the Fourth Hokage took over his vision.

With a wipe from one of his forearms, Gamabunta then said,

"The kid is making me remind of the Fourth. It's through this brat that everything will change. I'm honoured to have been of service to this brat."

The elder sage commented, "Maybe this was all meant to be, from the time Jiraiya decided to never give up."

The sounds of rushing water were the only things that could be heard in the great structure of Myobokuzan that day...

Konoha:

"Gedo Rinne Tensei no Jutsu! (Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique)" Nagato shouted, his chakra pouring out of his body. His remaining life force, going to the jutsu he had created. He said to Naruto,

"I believe in you... In you, I can see a bright future, thank you Naruto; you made me remind myself of my youth... My idealism... I'll put my faith in you as Yahiko and sensei did to me... With this, the deed is done..."

In the midst of Pain's parting speech, a giant creature, with its concentric eyes of the Rinnegan, sprouted forth from the ground zero of Pain's Shinra Tensei (Divine Subjugation of the Omnipresent God), with its mark of King on its forehead, it undid the strings that covered of its gaping mouth, releasing countless souls of the people venturing in the twilight of life and death.

In the false tree, Nagato said as his shivering hands reached out to the blonde, "Just one more time... Let me put my faith... Back to true peace... One more time... Let me dream that beautiful dream..."

Nagato slowly began to lose his consciousness; Naruto caught him by the arms, a sullen expression written all over his face.

"Nagato..."

Konan remained silent as she closed her eyes, as Nagato had started breathing his last.

"What did Nagato do?" Naruto asked, as Nagato was starting his heavy breathing.

"Nagato... As the Seventh Pain, he is able to control life and death. For he who controls the Rinnegan is above the cycle of life and death."

Nagato looked upwards, the false tree starting to disperse,