A Mother's Love

75. Welcome to Konoha

He really enjoyed hearing their cheers as he stood atop the tower. He also liked finally getting to wear the hat. The hat was cool. When the cheers finally ended he turned around to receive congratulations from all the people he'd invited. His mom hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Hinata followed that with a sweet kiss on his lips. He picked up an indignant Alysa and let her ride on the Hokage's shoulders as people laughed.

There was a huge feast being held in the Tower to celebrate his coronation as Hokage. He would have really liked to have stayed and enjoyed the good food and company. But as he was already discovering the duties of the Hokage demanded a lot of his time. He stayed for five minutes before slipping out with Jiraiya coming with him to a different room in the tower.

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He stared down at the plans. He went over the numbers again. He was sure it would work. The jutsus he would need were already written down in various scrolls. There were no ways to test his theories of course. But he had faith that it would work. His will and his vision had brought him to this point. He would not stop now. He would make his dream come true no matter the cost.

He heard familiar footsteps approaching. He did not need to look up.

"What is it?" Pein asked.

His partner approached his side before answering. She stood there patiently in her black robes with red clouds and with a paper flower in her hair. "It is definitely confirmed now."

Pein finally looked up from his drawings. "Is it?"

Konan nodded. "Namikaze Naruto is definitely alive. What is more, he has been proclaimed the Sixth Hokage of Konoha."

"What of the Fifth?" Pein asked curiously.

"She is reported to have died during his rescue. No one seems to know the details of her death. The public is however aware that Naruto no longer posses the Kyuubi."

"Hmmm, that's very interesting considering that when we left Tsunade was alive and Naruto was dead." Shrugging he turned back to his drawings. "Well it may be interesting but it's not really important."

"You don't think this is important?" Konan asked.

"No." Pein replied without looking up again.

"Konoha's new leader has a real reason to hate us. Isn't that deserving of at least a little concern?"

"Naruto was no match for Itachi even with the Kyuubi. What threat can he be now? The forces of Konoha could be a problem, but by the time he even figures out what the true danger is it will be too late. He is inexperienced and weak He is far less of a threat to us as Hokage than Tsunade or Jiraiya would be."

Konan paused for a bit. "Pein?"

"Yes?"

She had known him her entire life. Without him she would have died long ago. She was devoted to him and to his dream. But she was perhaps the only one he might listen to. "Are you sure that it will work with only eight?"

He looked up at her in surprise. "Of course."

"You once told me that possessing the power of all nine biju was the key to controlling their immense chakra."

"The one tail is gone; I can do nothing about that. But have no fear I have carefully compensated the jutsus to make up for the loss. The weapon will work Konan, trust in me."

She looked at him with deep concern. "You know that I trust you, I always have. But… but what if you are wrong?"

"I am not." He said calmly. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Konan you know how long this has been my dream. Since we lost everything as kids I have burned with a desire to make people, all people, understand the futility of war. And the only way to do that is to make war too terrible to be fought any longer. And I will make it happen." He gave her a comforting smile. "We have come too far to stop now. I will make this work and I will bring peace to this world the only way possible; with the sword. Trust in me."