NARUTO X HINATA ONESHOTS

Arrange Marriage

The Fourth Great Ninja War had left scars on everyone involved, but the aftermath in Konoha was particularly heavy. The victory, bittersweet as it was, had come at the devastating cost of Menma Uzumaki's life. The younger of the legendary Uzumaki brothers, known as "The Beast" for his unmatched combat prowess, was no longer with them. His death had shaken not only Konoha but the entire Allied Forces.

The Uzumaki Legacy

Menma and Naruto were a duo unlike any other. The "Brain and Beast" combo had ensured Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, could focus on saving his wife, Kushina. Minato had reluctantly left the front lines, knowing that the explosive power of Konoha rested with his sons. Together, they were Konoha's greatest weapon against the Akatsuki and their army of reanimated shinobi and White Zetsu.

However, Minato's mission to rescue Kushina was both a success and a failure. He had found her, trapped in a sea of Uzumaki seals in the ruins of their ancestral home, Uzushiogakure. It had taken him and Kakashi three days to free her. But by the time they returned, Menma had fallen, and Kushina was in a deep coma, showing no signs of waking. Tobi, the Akatsuki leader, had ensured that Minato's triumph came with unbearable pain.

Naruto, witnessing his brother's death, unleashed a fury unlike any other. Fueled by Kurama's power and his own grief, he became an unstoppable force, wiping out five Akatsuki members single-handedly, including the resurrected Nagato. He obliterated hordes of Zetsu and reanimated shinobi, ensuring that Konoha's victory would be decisive.

The cost of this war was immense. Might Guy, in a blaze of glory, sacrificed himself using the Eighth Gate to defeat Tobi, who turned out to be Obito Uchiha and not the real Madara. This revelation brought relief to the Allied Forces-if the real Madara had been present, they would not have stood a chance.

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A Village in Mourning

It had been a month since the war ended, but the wounds were far from healed. Kushina remained comatose, her body and chakra system deeply affected by the seals and her captivity. Minato, consumed by guilt over his decisions, stepped down as Hokage. The weight of losing his youngest son and failing to protect his wife had broken him. He retreated from the public eye, leaving the leadership of Konoha to someone who could bear the burden: his eldest son, Naruto.

Kurama, now trusting Naruto completely, had chosen him as his new jinchūriki, further solidifying Naruto's position as the strongest shinobi in the village. At just 18 years old, Naruto Uzumaki became the Fifth Hokage, the youngest in Konoha's history. The village celebrated his appointment. To them, Naruto was the hero of the Fourth Ninja War, the prodigy who had surpassed even the legendary Itachi Uchiha.

But Naruto himself wasn't celebrating. He accepted the role out of necessity, not desire. With his father broken and the village in need of leadership, Naruto had no choice but to shoulder the immense responsibility.

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The Role of the Hokage

Being Hokage was more than just protecting the village. Minato had redefined the role during his tenure, emphasizing three key aspects:

1. Hokage: The protector of the village and enforcer of its laws. Naruto's primary duty was to oversee the village's defense and maintain peace in the aftermath of the war.

2. Shadow Hokage: An unofficial but crucial role. The Shadow Hokage operated as a covert agent, gathering intelligence, negotiating alliances, and eliminating threats before they could reach Konoha. Sasuke Uchiha was chosen for this position. Despite their differences, Naruto trusted Sasuke's skills and judgment implicitly.

3. First Lady: Though not a formal role in the past, Minato had made it official during his tenure. The Hokage's partner served as a symbol of unity and support, providing emotional and political balance to the leader. Naruto, however, was far from ready to think about this aspect. His heart was still heavy with grief, and the thought of opening himself to someone felt impossible.